Page 19 of Cruel Crown

Over seven billion people in the world and I hadn’t felt anything toward anybody until I bumped into her. She was unlike anyone I had ever met in my life before—an enigma.

She was here telling me we could never work. Why she could never be with me, but all I did was hold her tighter to my chest so I could feel the warmth of her body in my arms, the rhythm of her heart against my chest. So I could know that this time she was here for real and not just in my nightmares.

Daphne was not breaking, not even bending. She was showing me something I suspected long ago. She was human; she had more humanity hidden inside of her than she liked to admit.

Seven continents, one hundred and ninety-five countries, and she somehow ended up in my arms. She could lie all she wanted, but actions always spoke louder than words.

I’ll admit it had stung when she kicked me out of her lodge in London, but having her and her sharing some of her secrets, letting me carry the burden of them—well, that shit was a start into forcing my way into her soul permanently.

Once she had composed herself, she pulled away, and my body got tense. Since the moment I saw her again, I’d wanted her. I was certain I would always want her.

“I know it isn’t fair for me to ask this of you—”

I didn’t let her finish that sentence, not when I’d been holding myself back this whole time. I pulled her to me, and I fucking kissed her. I kissed her like she was mine because at the end of the day she was. Her lips were soft and lacked her usual venom, but the forbidden on her end still lingered.

Her mouth opened greedily, allowing me to take more. She was seeking comfort in me while I wanted everything from her. I bent my head so I could give her more, my arm coming around her tiny waist, pressing her against my body so she could feel how much I wanted her.

“Let’s go back to my place,” I mumbled against her lips. “I want to feel you all over me.”

She pulled back, her gray eyes dark with lust, but also alarmed and slightly possessive.

“We can’t go back to your place. Your friend might be there, and no one can know I was here. If she sees me, I’d have to kill her.”

Fuck me.

I didn’t know if I believed in love, but at this moment I knew I claimed her crazy ass as mine. I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. Jealousy was a good look on her. I’d like it better if she was naked with my cock inside of her though.

“I wouldn’t want to cause attention to my safe house,” I said lightly, following along. This feeling was new to me, and I was already addicted.

Daphne guarded me with those silver eyes. “Are you mocking me?”

She said the words slowly, and again unintentionally giving vulnerability. I took a step toward her, my finger coming under her chin and cautiously tipping it up.

“I’ll never judge you, Petal. I find your madness beautiful and your chaos entrancing. If I could, I’ll keep you at my side alw—”

“Stop,” she begged me with wide eyes. I took a deep breath and let it go. She had already made herself vulnerable, and I knew if I asked for more, she would run away and not look back. She had bared a part of her soul to me; I couldn’t ask her to expose her body now, as much as it was killing me not having all of her.

I removed my shirt and pretended like I didn’t notice she was taking in every inch of me.

“Here, put this on.” I handed her the shirt. “I’m about to give you the fucking of a lifetime, and I wouldn’t want to get sand in any of my favorite parts.”

She seemed almost relieved.

Throwing my shorts on the ground, I fixed them so I could lie on them.

“Get on your knees, Petal, and suck my dick,” I commanded once she finished putting on my shirt. She glared at me, her shoulders losing some of the tension.

“In your dreams, handsome,” she teased.

“Baby, in my dreams, I have you gagging on it,” I told her as I sat on the sand.

Fuckkk, she was breathtaking. Short with defined, shapely legs, breasts that fit perfectly into my mouth, hair like silk, and the most mesmerizing eyes I’d ever laid eyes on.

“Fuck me,” I said as I grabbed my hard dick and stroked it. “I want to feel your pussy.”

She took a step toward me, and I gave her my hand for her to take. When she reached for it, my heart thumped. Slowly she sank into my lap. The scars on her legs brushed against mine, but I didn’t care about any of that. Her skin might not be soft and smooth, but it was still perfect. Her skin told the story she tried so hard to hide. I rubbed her thighs, feeling all the scars along the way curving up to her ass and waist.

Her hand ran over my hair and I looked up at her. Her silver eyes looked confused and angry. She grabbed my face between her hands and kissed my lips angrily. My hold on her waist became tighter, wanting to mark her. She hated the way she felt about me, hated that I had seen her like this today. I opened my mouth to give her my tongue, but she bit my lips hard until the taste of my blood coated my tongue.

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